Can extender and pourer



March 14, w67 v. l.. HAvERsTlcK CAN EXTENDER AND POURER F'iled April l5,1965 A ltormyx United States Patent Office 3,309,000- Patented Mar. 14,1967 3,309,000 CAN EXTENDER AND POURER Virgil L. Haverstick, 400 RomeroNW., Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87104 Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,836 6Claims. (Cl. 222-569) This invention relates to an attachment for canswhich are currently used as containers for ready-to-use liquidformcommodities such as, for example, paint, enamel, varnish, plastic resinsand the like and which is unique in that it functions to extend thelength of the can and, accordingly, increases the capacity thereof.

Persons conversant with paint can handling difficulties are aware thatonce the can is opened it is usually desirable, often quite necessary,to stir the paint or other commodity in the can. This step poses theusual problem of stirring without encountering overflow, spilling andthe attending messiness. Where, as is usually the case, the can isequipped with a pry-olf lid having a friction rib keyed in the channelor groove of the annular lid holding rim, the channel becomes loadedwith paint and makes satisfactory replacement of the lid virtuallyimpossible. Not only is the freshly opened can too full to permitacceptable stirring, it is likewise impractical to add and mix colorpigments, thinners, catalyzing agents or the like.

The objective in the instant matter is to provide a simple, practical,economical can attachment which can lbe readily applied and removed andwhich ena-bles the user to etfectually cope with and solve theaforementioned problems. To the ends desired it will increase or enlargethe cans capacity by simply adding the length or height thereto.Accordingly, the user will be able to etfectually stir the contents ofthe can without fear of spilling and slopping, will be able to addmixing agents and blend the same without diculty, and can funnel andpour with the aid of a properly oriented spout.

The attachment becomes a feasible can extender and pourer and includesan adapter which provides the capability of expedient use, overlies andcovers the rimchannel or groove, and guards against leakage by reason ofits mode of mounting on the can.

Briefly the attachment comprises an annular collar of requisite shape,size and material (rubber or suitable moldable plastic material) andwherein said collar has a channel-type adapter. The flanges or walls ofthe channelled adapter aptly and ttingly apply themselves and providethe desired sealing result. Then, too, an endless bead surrounds theadapter and stabilizes the same but has the primary function of afinger-grip, making it easier to attach and detach t-he novel collar.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective of a conventional type of paint canwith the improved can extender and pourer attached thereto and inreadiness for use.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the sectionline 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

The can is denoted by the numeral 6 and the attachment, considered as astructural entity is denoted by the numeral 8. As already pointed outthe can is to be construed as a container for ready-to-use uid or liquidcommodities such as paint, enamel, varnish, plastic resins and so on. Itwill simplify the description, it is submitted, to regard the can as acontainer for paint. Also and as will be evident, the attachment 8 canand will be eX- pressly constructed for use on cans with or without afeature denoted generally at 10. This component or feature 10 is aconventional internal annulus or rim which is an integral part of themouth or top of the can and which is provided with the customary grooveor channel 12 to accommodate an insertable and removable rib on aso-called friction type lid (not shown). It follows that the attachmentherein disclosed is suitably constructed to accommodatingly fit on thecan 6 in a manner to c0- operatively coincide with the channeled rim 10.

The attachment can be stamped from metal or formed from plastic materialsuch as polyethylene or a suitable ygrade of rubber. It can bemanufactured to t any desired size of can but is primarily, but -notnecessarily, designed and adapted for standard friction lid type cans inhalf pints, pints, quarts and gallon sizes.

It will be evident that the attachment is preferably made from anappropriate grade of moldable commercial plastics as suggested inIFIGURE 3. It is characterized by an axially positioned and retainedmain part which is here designated as a collar 14. This collar can bemade to fit any shape of or any size of can. This is to say the collarcan be circular or non-circular in plan but has been found to be highlyadvantageous when constructed in the form of a truncated cone as shown.The collar will be of predetermined vertical height in keeping with thecapacity of the can and also taking into account the need for extraspace when adding thinners, pigments and other mixing agents. The innerperipheral surface of the collar is denoted at 16 and the outerperipheral surface at 18. This surface slopes upwardly and inwardly andprovides a convenient shape when pushing the device down and into itsseated position as shown in FIGURE 3. The upper thinner edge or lip isdenoted at 20. On one side an offset marginally projecting suitablyshaped spout 22 is provided. The adapter means at the open bottom of thecollar is denoted at 24 and is preferably of a shape, size andconstruction illustrated. The adapter comprises an annular or endlesschannel-shaped member whose outer flange or wall is denoted at 26 andwhose inner ange or wall is denoted at 28. The marginal surfaces 30 and32 are chamfered or beveled to facilitate applying the adapter. Thecross-section of the outer flange 26 is such that it fits over andaround the part.

34 of the aforementioned rim 10. When in position it yieldingly hugs thesurface of the can which it encircles. The inner flange 28 is especiallyshaped so that it wedges or spans the channel 12 and fits inwardly andgrippingly engages the inner wall of the channel 12. The surface 36 isconvexly contoured and merges with requisite nicety into the innerperiphery or wall of the collar as denoted at 38. When the channelledadapter is in place as shown in FIGURE 3 it will be seen that it notonly applies and attaches the collar, it provides a desired sealingaction and facilitates funnelling and pouring of the paint lby way ofthe spout 22 whenever necessary or desired. Also the convex surfacecauses the surplus or excess paint to gravitate back into the containerportion of the can 6. It will be further noted that the relatively thickbottom portion of the collar is concaved as at 40 and cooperates withthe endless outstanding reinforcing and linger-gripping bead 42. Itwould be within the purview of the invention to provide the adapter at apoint between the wall or anges 26 and 28 with the depending tongue orrib (not shown) which would fit into the channel 12 and Would assist inpiloting the adapter into place and assuring a tight friction grip, this'being an optional feature of the concept.

It is submitted that careful consideration of the specification inconjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader tofully comprehend the construction and coordination of the components ofthe over-all attachment. Accordingly, a more extended description isbelieved to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is consi-dered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

One example of a modification covered in this application is the use ofan outwardly flared peripheral wall in lieu of the inwardly taperingcollar 14. This arrangement would act somewhat in the nature of a funnelfor guiding material into thevcontainer on which the device is mounted.Of course, this arrangement will still serve as an eicient pouringdevice for various liquids.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment adapted to be mounted on the annular rim of a paintcan, said annular rim having an outer edge secured to the wall of saidpaint can, an inner edge and an upwardly opening channel therebetween,said attachment comprising:

(a) a continuous annulal rim portion having a continuous radiallyoutwardly projecting reinforcing and gripping bead and a generally flattop surface,

(b) a pair of space-d annularanges depending from the underside of saidrim portion to define a downwardly opening channel to receive theannular rim of the paint can, the outer depending annular fiange beingspaced inwardly of the periphery of said bead,

(c) a continuous wall extending upwardly from the top surface of the rimportion anddening the inner edge of the iiat top surface, the verticaldimension of the wall being substantially greater than the combinedvertical dimension of the rim portion 4and depending flanges, said walltapering upwardly and radially inwardly in thickness to a relativelythin upper edge generally in alignment with the inner edge of theannular rim portion,

(d) a pouring spout in said wall with the upper edge of the spoutforming a portion of the thin upper edge of the wall, said spoutextending upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the wall andterminating in a pouring lip disposed radially outwardly in relation tothe periphery of the bead,

2. The attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said rim portion,depending flanges, upwardly extending wall and pouring spout are ofunitary one-piece construction and being constructed of resilientplastic material.

3. The attachment as dened in claim 1 wherein the inner iange on the rimportion extends downwardly to the extent of covering the inner edge ofthe rim of the can with the lower ends of the inner and outer flange:being substantially ush with each other.

4..The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the facing surfaces ofthe spaced depending anges have inwardly extending ribs and downwardlyand outwardly ared surfaces defining the lower portions of the ribs forguiding the rim of the can between the anges and providing securefrictional engagement with the portionsof the can engaged by theflanges.

5. The attachment as defined in claim 4 wherein the surface of the innerdepending flange which faces inwardly is convexly curved with the innersurface of the wall :being substantially straight with the convexsurface of the ydepending ange disposed radially inwardly of the surfaceof the wall.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said spout hascommunication with the interior of the wall throughout its length, thepouring surface of the spout being convexly curved smoothly andcontinuously from the pouring lip to the bottom edge of the dependinginner ange on the rim portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,375,248 5/1945Reese 222-569 2,722,347 l1/1955 Henke 222-570 2,812,886 11/1957Weinstein 222-570 X 2,837,256 6/1958 Daner 222-570 X 2,873,052 2/1959Atherton 222-570 2,960,257 11/1960 Sasse 222-570 X 3,074,604 1/1963Baroud f 222-569 3,120,908 2/1964 Szatna et al. 222-570 .X 3,221,95512/1965 Banaszak et al. 222-570 RAPHAELVM. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE ANNULAR RIM OF A PAINTCAN, SAID ANNULAR RIM HAVING AN OUTER EDGE SECURED TO THE WALL OF SAIDPAINT CAN, AN INNER EDGE AND AN UPWARDLY OPENING CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN,SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING: (A) A CONTINUOUS ANNULAR RIM PORTION HAVINGA CONTINUOUS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY PROJECTING REINFORCING AND GRIPPING BEADAND A GENERALLY FLAT TOP SURFACE, (B) A PAIR OF SPACED ANNULAR FLANGESDEPENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID RIM PORTION TO DEFINE A DOWNWARDLYOPENING CHANNEL TO RECEIVE THE ANNULAR RIM OF THE PAINT CAN, THE OUTERDEPENDING ANNULAR FLANGE BEING SPACED INWARDLY OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAIDBEAD, (C) A CONTINUOUS WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE TOP SURFACE OFTHE RIM PORTION AND DEFINING THE INNER EDGE OF THE FLAT TOP SURFACE, THEVERTICAL DIMENSION OF THE WALL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THECOMBINED VERTICAL DIMENSION OF THE RIM PORTION AND DEPENDING FLANGES,SAID WALL TAPERING UPWARDLY AND RADIALLY INWARDLY IN THICKNESS TO ARELATIVELY THIN UPPER EDGE GENERALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INNER EDGE OFTHE ANNULAR RIM PORTION, (D) A POURING SPOUT IN SAID WALL WITH THE UPPEREDGE OF THE SPOUT FORMING A PORTION OF THE THIN UPPER EDGE OF THE WALL,SAID SPOUT EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF THEWALL AND TERMINATING IN A POURING LIP DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INRELATION TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE BEAD.